Letters to the Editor for Wednesday, Aug. 28

Wednesday

Aug 28, 2013 at 12:01 AMAug 28, 2013 at 12:02 AM

Journalist will be missed

I was sad to hear last week about the passing of Henry Cuningham, the Observer's longtime military editor and founder of its weekly Military section. North Carolina is the most military-friendly state in the nation, and Henry's coverage of our armed forces was immensely valuable to the brave service members who call North Carolina home.

Cuningham was the real deal - a tenacious and versatile reporter and editor, who wasn't afraid to risk his life following our troops halfway across the world to war zones like Iraq and Afghanistan in pursuit of an important story. The decades of credibility he built as an expert on military issues helped him land major interviews with high-ranking military leaders. Not surprisingly, he earned the respect and admiration of four-star generals for his commitment to fairness and accuracy.

For more than 25 years, Cuningham covered it all: presidential visits, tragic deaths, base closures, foreign conflicts, shifts in federal policy and the evolving role of women in the military. He never lost sight of the human dimension of a story - how a decision or a policy affected service members, veterans or their families on a personal level. Cuningham's passion for his profession as a journalist kept our military more transparent and accountable while keeping readers engaged and informed.

Like many Observer readers, I will miss Henry Cuningham's insightful coverage of military issues that affect our state and country. He was an incredible talent, and his death is a real loss for The Observer and the community of readers it serves.

U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, Washington Immigration laws should be enforced

In response to Jacob Salzberg's Aug. 8 letter, "Nearly all of us are immigrant families," I would like to take a moment to address how misinformed Salzberg is. The weak points he is trying to make are nothing more than liberal talking points for the far left.

First, I love how liberals try to state that "Everyone is an illegal alien." This is the most popular talking point when liberals are faced with immigration reform. This is either a lie or proof of how misinformed they are. One cannot be an "illegal alien" if there is no sovereign nation to which one can be illegal. The laws are what they are - if it calls for a two-year jail term then we should enforce those laws. However, Salzberg does make a point about how the two-year jail term is a waste of taxpayer money, as are other aspects of the immigration law. I suggest that to better utilize taxpayer dollars, we use our military in the same fashion that Mexico uses its military, by protecting our borders and enforcing existing immigration laws.

Face it, if you and your liberal buddies don't like America, let's work together to fix it, but to do so takes a majority of Americans to want to do the same thing. If you don't have the numbers, then better luck next time. We cannot pick and choose which laws to enforce and which ones not to enforce.

William Hennessee, Hope Mills Why can Jackson choose his prison?

Since when do convicted people like Jesse Jackson Jr., or any other convict, request to be sentenced to a prison of their choice? Could it be because of his name and/or father?

I know of no other convict to receive this special treatment, especially after using the money that people gave to elect him.

What is there to stop others from doing the same?

Ed Lutz, Raeford War dogs necessary to save lives

In a rebuttal to "Using dogs in war" (Aug. 11), military dogs save lives. Let me say to all dog lovers: I am a dog owner, and love my animals unconditionally. With that being said, it saddens me when an animal is lost, especially in wartime. The value of an animal of any kind can never be greater than that of a human, sorry.

I have personally seen these dogs work, and trained over the years with a very good friend who was a handler of a military K-9. These brave animals perform a service no other can. They save our soldiers' lives on a daily basis, period. They perform dangerous tasks that are much needed and deserve to be recognized. I think the memorial is very fitting and far overdue. My hat is off to these awesome dogs and their handlers.

If you are against this, then you must be a vegan, because you certainly don't eat meat from animals we raise for slaughter, fish we catch in nets to eat, clothing made from animal hides.

The next thing you know, someone will want to ban catching butterflies in nets. If the service of these awesome animals can save soldiers' lives, I am for it.

An activist sees a situation, and tries to solve it. A pacifist sees a situation and waits for someone else to solve it. These dogs and handlers solve dangerous situations.

Ken Barnard, CEO, Patriot Hunt, Fayetteville Voter ID laws make sense

Finally, someone in Raleigh got something right and passed a law that makes good common sense.

The requirement for ID to vote and reducing the days for early voting are simple tasks that are not only smart, but will help save money. Anyone who can't find time in the 10 days mandated for early voting does not need to vote.

If the Democrats are so worried that this law restricts so many, then I guess it's a forgone conclusion that the GOP has already won all the future elections. Another advantage to getting an ID: Everyone will have one and can buy nail polish remover.

Derrick Buchanan, Fayetteville Victims recognize racism

If an affected group thinks there is a problem, while an unaffected group thinks there isn't one, then this conflict of opinion should suggest to intelligent people a problem exists.

In reference to Harold Mendelson's Aug. 13 letter, "Racism claims unsubstantiated," what Mendelson says makes what he doesn't say even more profound. Racism is a problem in America. Contrarily, Mendelson indicates there is no racism, yet I endure the pains of racism every day of my life.

If people like Mendelson prefer to bury their heads in the sand, then America suffers. Acknowledging racism opens the door to real solutions. A cure is most likely when one realizes he is sick, but when one is in denial, only more suffering develops. Is there any part of a body without illness when another part is cancerous? Wouldn't the whole body eventually succumb to death if the cancerous part is ignored?

Mendelson claims that laws are fair and just in North Carolina and America, which would ironically make his letter without purpose. He erroneously blames the Rev. William Barber, Attorney General Eric Holder and President Obama for racial unrest. I would suggest to him that perhaps he, and others who think as he does, should stop reasoning with the big part of his body that is unmistakably above ground and think with the little part that he has chosen to bury. Our Constitution works best when all Americans feel invested.

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